Dumb(or smart) politician

There is a lengthy article in today's newspaper about State Rep. Irving Slosberg and the recent controversies he has been involved in. The articles wonders if these will harm Slosberg's chances of being elected to the State Senate.

I'm no fan of Slosberg. One of the reasons for this is I feel he is a publicity hound. He makes alot of noise, but his accomplishements don't live up to the noise level that is created. There is one thing I will grant the State rep, he knows how to play to the voters. What I feel may be at work here is Slosberg going out of the way to keep himself visible. For one thing, his primary opponent Ted Deutsch has been next to invisible. Is Slosberg pandering to voters while keeping his name in the news? I think he is. The voters not the democratic party leaders in the county will decide who wins this fall. Slosberg I'm sure knows exactly what he is doing.

Open Post- Bright & Early, Mark My Words,

Democratic state Rep. Irving Slosberg's tenure on the Palm Beach County Health Care District board has roughly paralleled his fortunes with the local Democratic establishment.

Both are in jeopardy.


Slosberg's appointment to the health-care board, a reminder of a brief period when he was a member of his party's In Crowd, appears likely to be yanked Tuesday by county commissioners upset with the way he used the appointment in a printed ad for his state Senate campaign.

Slosberg's Senate bid, once considered a slam dunk against first-time candidate Ted Deutch, also faces intensifying opposition from elected officials in his own party, including U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler and County Commissioner Burt Aaronson.

Slosberg's critics say he's a self-promoter and not a team player. He says his foes are trying to punish him, both on Tuesday and in his Senate primary, for refusing to be part of a local Democratic "machine," the term Slosberg uses to describe prominent Democrats who are critical of him.

"It's Irv versus the Democratic machine, Round 2.... I beat them the first time," Slosberg said.

Indeed, Slosberg was a consummate political outsider who defied the party establishment in 2000 and won his state House seat by defeating an incumbent and close Aaronson ally in a Democratic primary.

But Slosberg hasn't always raged against the machine.

His 2004 appointment to the health-care board came at a time when he had formed a strange-bedfellows political alliance with Aaronson. Aaronson that year faced a Democratic primary challenge for his county commission seat. His reelection campaign got a big boost when former foe Slosberg endorsed him.

It was Aaronson who nominated Slosberg to the health-care board in August 2004 and helped him get appointed on a 4-3 vote.

And Aaronson was among the Democratic elites who signed up last year to endorse Slosberg's 2006 Senate campaign. But Aaronson recently withdrew his support and is backing Deutch.

"Irv has had a complete turnaround from what Irv was two years ago. He is now, in my opinion, starting fights within the Democratic Party," Aaronson said, referring to Slosberg's support for a primary challenger to state Rep. Richard Machek, D-Delray Beach, and his public clashes with Wexler.

The seeds of Slosberg's troubles with Wexler were planted last year when the congressman quietly agreed to endorse Slosberg's Senate bid, then had second thoughts. Wexler said the decision to withdraw his endorsement wasn't directed at Slosberg in particular but reflected a general desire not to get embroiled in local primary races.

Then came Hurricane Wilma, which made Slosberg a media star. Slosberg toted a bullhorn through senior condo communities as he delivered ice and water and brought doctors and nurses to shut-ins. Cameras from CNN and other media outlets were frequently in tow.

Slosberg said he didn't seek the publicity, but critics accused him of grandstanding. The manager of the huge Kings Point retirement community called Slosberg disruptive and had him removed from the premises. Slosberg also was excluded from a post-hurricane meeting with Kings Point residents and other elected officials and their representatives.

Still, most of the criticism of Slosberg was confined to political insiders. That changed in March, when a public feud erupted between Slosberg and Wexler.

It started when Slosberg and Wexler aide Wendi Lipsich had a discussion about Wexler's withdrawn endorsement. Lipsich said Slosberg repeatedly called her boss a vulgar name. Slosberg denied doing it. Wexler accused Slosberg of lying and demanded an apology. Slosberg refused.

Their battle has escalated during the past three months, with Wexler accusing Slosberg of being a "Republican agent" for encouraging primary challengers to other Democrats and noting that Slosberg voted for a GOP-drafted reapportionment plan in 2002.

Slosberg said he's a loyal Democrat, but "Democrats are getting buried in Tallahassee. I want to shake things up."

The latest controversy came last month when Slosberg, one of seven appointees to the health-care district board, ran a campaign ad describing himself as "the health care commissioner."

After commissioners began talk of removing Slosberg from the board, Slosberg launched a counteroffensive, calling the district a "fiefdom" that has been "hoarding" taxpayer money by keeping an average cash balance of about $180 million last year. District officials say the balance reflects policy decisions by the board to set aside money for several capital projects, including a new Glades hospital, and to maintain significant cash reserves in case of emergencies.

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, who endorsed Slosberg last year but also calls Deutch a good candidate, said Slosberg's recent controversies are threatening what once looked like an easy path to a Senate seat.

"I don't think it has been helpful to Irv to have the controversies involving Congressman Wexler and the health care district," Aronberg said. "Congressman Wexler is the most popular elected official in that district."

Others note that, although Slosberg beat the Democratic establishment in his 2000 House race, Wexler wasn't an active player. Many Democrats now expect Wexler to become engaged in the Slosberg-Deutch Senate race the way he did in defeating former Elections Supervisor Theresa LePore in 2004.

"Robert Wexler is not just liked by Democratic voters. They love him. Very few politicians can direct and transfer votes. Robert has that ability and can affect results in this or any other local race," Democratic operative Andre Fladell said.

Slosberg said he's not concerned.

"The community knows how hard I work at this job. I don't see any problems," Slosberg said. "The machine just wants to make me problems."